peacecorpspatrice

[peacecorpspatrice]

These are two of the lovely locals I met who were so curious about me. Photo 1 was a lady who wanted to talk to me about her family member who moved to the US. The 2nd was a little girl who wanted to practice her English. (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e2pP5gfeyUDqiFCAgOFfv2V2wdfEBYINaKhU0/?igshid=1cs3ingi4b3a8

[peacecorpspatrice]

Some things I would not eat from the Phnom Penh Market. (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e1wX_g28vrT6qoqwB16Hj3XkFr84C-Jyn8nY0/?igshid=oyuquuhp87az

[peacecorpspatrice]

Photos of some things I would eat from the Phnom Penh market. People were preparing for Linar New at the time I was there. (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e1HmbA7VdqB9jFTrlgEzHXYhxKJEh2WXqZIA0/?igshid=1bc26rkr2qkpn

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Cruising down a Phnom Penh Street. Just another normal day with all the motorbikes. (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e0AmGA9UeeSIQMauHF6sOxVvL-fR9xyYUivI0/?igshid=1w04n43vqq69p

[peacecorpspatrice]

I spent some time in the Tuoi Sieng Genocide Museum in Phnom Pemh. This was the main prison as part of a large network of prisons used to detain, torture and kill citizens during Pol Pot’s reign from 1975-1979. It has been maintained and opened as a place where people can reflect and be messengers of peace. This was a very hard place to come to. After having met so many Cambodians in different parts of the country it was amazing to see their resilience and optimism. This isn’t the kind of place one takes photos. I only took this one of the rules of the prison. Even reading these it makes my heart ache at the cruelty humans can do to each other. Likely more than 20,000 men, women and children were imprisoned, tortured and killed here. When it was freed only 12 people lived. Initially they buried the dead near S 21 (a former secondary school) but there were so many they started taking them out to a nearby area that is now called The Killing Fields (I also don’t have photos of that). This is another hard truth about humanity but one we must not forget. In total during the Khmer Rouge regime it is believed that from 2 to 3 million people were killed in about 4 years from roll torture, murder, forced famine. (at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9b08QNAygGSz4hoL7ebqnCrg4QLVsPgyAREKs0/?igshid=ypv1ergf2jpi

[peacecorpspatrice]

I took a cool tour with Vespa Adventures in Phnom Penh here are photos of me with my groovy guide. I was able to see parts of the city I wouldn’t have otherwise. ~~~~~~~~~~~ #phnompenh #cambodia #travel #vespatours #vespatourscambodia #vespatoursphnompenh #temples #siteseeing (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XjgN6APuHEUbOlwUq3ayDutxGwneHkCSyFbE0/?igshid=1m8cx56106p9l

#phnompenh #cambodia #travel #vespatours #vespatourscambodia #vespatoursphnompenh #temples #siteseeing

[peacecorpspatrice]

Phnom Penh was a great city to explore for a few days. This post includes mostly newer street art. Some was created by locals and others by travelers who are encouraged to create art in this space. The neighborhood had been nearly abandoned until a few years ago. Most people lived nearby in a neighborhood that was bought by International investors who built high end apartments. The people who had lived there were moved to this neighborhood and had to find a way to make it all work. They decided to create a place where they were known for street art. I appreciated it! ~~~~~~~~~~~ #phnompenh #streetart #gentrification #cambodia #solotravel (at Phnom Penh, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SuUnGg9XZqgERVwqTMD3FUDdaiTz0cV0cglU0/?igshid=188z4bn2b8bu3

#phnompenh #streetart #gentrification #cambodia #solotravel

[peacecorpspatrice]

Seemingly every inch of the temples were covered in carvings. Many of the carvings were just symbolic to honor someone or for protection. But many told the stories of the king for which that temple was built to honor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ #angkorwat #temples #carvings #siemreap #cambodia #hindutemples (at Angkor Unesco World Heritage Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zPq5Mg8bbr_rP5BmeZu0M6ZIoLrNTJTvrHL80/?igshid=upj6a36qj5j4

#angkorwat #temples #carvings #siemreap #cambodia #hindutemples

[peacecorpspatrice]

I loved walking around these temples. The extensive artwork was incredible. Hard to believe they were all constructed and completed in something less than 30 years. Started out Hindu, then Buddhist, then some fighting and then some more and back and forth and now the area is mostly Buddhist. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #kingsbuildingmonuments #hotsunnydays #angkorwat #cambodia #siemreap #temples (at Angkor Unesco World Heritage Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zPDMPgryTfzEVWlu0NRhgnlwnBm89ngNBJg40/?igshid=190mjrcq208nc

#kingsbuildingmonuments #hotsunnydays #angkorwat #cambodia #siemreap #temples

[peacecorpspatrice]

The sun bursting over the most famous of the temples at Angkor Wat. Totally worth the 4:00am wake up call. ~~~~~~~~~~~#sunrise #angkorwat #siemreap #cambodia #temples #ancienthistory #solotravel (at Angkor Unesco World Heritage Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zN7LJgDaN0XawwVug7A9zVyXslnFIm1Yn02U0/?igshid=1tt26uo52vp1d

#sunrise #angkorwat #siemreap #cambodia #temples #ancienthistory #solotravel

[peacecorpspatrice]

I was finally there. After nearly a lifetime of dreaming of this place I got to experience it for myself! Angkor Wat, the whole complex is quite stunning. I wish I had planned more time there. I had an awesome guide which made the trip even more interesting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #angkorwat #siemreap #ancienthistory #cambodia #buddhisttemple no wait #hindutemple oh right #buddhist #solotravel #solofemaletraveler (at Angkor Unesco World Heritage Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zNosVApEcLOpcg1hey4vtR2gjECYNfxHuf-A0/?igshid=10k6u2poof4za

#angkorwat #siemreap #ancienthistory #cambodia #buddhisttemple #hindutemple #buddhist #solotravel #solofemaletraveler

[peacecorpspatrice]

Up next a download from Cambodia. It was an absolutely lovely country with fantastic people both locals and other travelers. I saw so little of the country and hope to get back there again someday. ~~~~~~~~~~~ #siemreap #cambodia #solotravel #solofemaletraveler #yogaretreats (at Siem Riep, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zMtIdgUov54pt8tLYHKbBRcKvbA3Nr1MNI8M0/?igshid=7ttoyig2cwu5

#siemreap #cambodia #solotravel #solofemaletraveler #yogaretreats

[peacecorpspatrice]

There were lots of activities and excursions to be had in Goa. There were hikes, waterfall swims and lots of yoga. Thanks @tahir_bhat__ for teaching me so much! ~~~~~~~~~~~ #yoga #hiking #swimming #waterfallswimming #newfriends #goa #southgoa #travel #solotravel #solofemaletravel #india (at Varca Beach Goa, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/B74v1Gug__r/?igshid=1q34ukb722t29

#yoga #hiking #swimming #waterfallswimming #newfriends #goa #southgoa #travel #solotravel #solofemaletravel #india

[peacecorpspatrice]

Houses of South Goa. There was so much color in this part of the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~ #joy #joyspotting #color #colorful #colorfulhouses #southgoa #goa #travel #solotravel #solofemaletraveler #india (at Varca Beach Goa, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/B74tgyxgCZp/?igshid=1n63tkb7ul5et

#joy #joyspotting #color #colorful #colorfulhouses #southgoa #goa #travel #solotravel #solofemaletraveler #india

[peacecorpspatrice]

And here is part of the crew all dressed up for the actual marriage ceremony. I didn’t get any photos of the ceremony itself. Which was many many hours long with many hundreds of people coming to honor the bride and groom. Sometime around 3:00 it was all over and we left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #hinduwedding #india #weddingtraditions #dressingup #travel #culture #solotravel (at Hyderabad High-tech City) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7cqQk0g1cH/?igshid=xue0q1eqzglm

#hinduwedding #india #weddingtraditions #dressingup #travel #culture #solotravel

[peacecorpspatrice]

I was invited to participate in the newer tradition of Sangeet. Luckily in the video I’m in the back corner just trying to keep up. The second photo is of the bride and groom in their Sangeet attire and group of international friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~ #sangeet #hinduwedding #india #dance #travel #culture #solotravel #weddingtraditions (at Hyderabad,telangana state) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7codragDfj/?igshid=2oddp1zc3hsd

#sangeet #hinduwedding #india #dance #travel #culture #solotravel #weddingtraditions

[peacecorpspatrice]

Last month I had the opportunity to attend a traditional Hindu wedding in India and had a wonderful time participating and meeting great folks. This first series was my mehendi for the wedding. (Henna). There were a few hundred of us women getting this done at the bride’s family home. There was this amazing meal served and music and it was really quite fun even though there was a lot of waiting for my hands to dry. ~~~~~~~~~~~ #hinduwedding #mehendi #wedding #india #traditions #solotravel #travel (at Hyderabad,telangana state) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7cj9Izg-Zd/?igshid=15d2gigs71ml

#hinduwedding #mehendi #wedding #india #traditions #solotravel #travel